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PEDRO M.
FERREIRA Research Assistant Professor of Economics of Information Networks and Public Policy |
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+1-412-2685526 |
Hamburg Hall 3042, Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh PA, 15213 |
MAIN CURRENT ACTIVITIES
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Director, Dual PhD Program offered by Carnegie Mellon University, Instituto Superior Tecnico and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto |
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EDUCATION PhD, Engineering and Public Policy Specialization in
Telecom Policy Carnegie Mellon University,
2004 MsC, Electrical & Computer Engineering
and Technology Policy Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 2002 MSc, Engineering Policy, Innovation and Management of
Technology Instituto Superior Tecnico, 1999 5-year BSc, Systems and Computer Science Specialization in Industrial Informatics Instituto Superior Tecnico, 1996 |
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE iLab, Heinz
College Carnegie Mellon University,
2009- Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy
Research, Instituto
Superior Tecnico, 1998- School of Information University of California at
Berkeley, 2004-05 Communications Future Program Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000-02 University of Texas Inequality Project LBJ School of Public
Affairs, 1999-00 |
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE Carnegie Mellon University Information Security Risk
Analysis and Telecommunications Management, 2000- Instituto Superior Tecnico Telecommunications
Management and Policy, Introduction to Engineering and Policy, 2005-10 Judge Business School, Cambridge University Lecturer for Telecommunications
Management and Policy, 2005-08 Communications Future Program at MIT Teaching Assistant for Data
Analysis for Telecommunications Policy, 2000-02 Math Department, Instituto
Superior Tecnico Teaching Assistant and
Grader for Linear Algebra, Calculus I and IV, 1999-05 |
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Knowledge Society Agency Ministry for Science and Technology, Portugal 2005-09 Member of the Board of
Directors of the Portuguese Governmental Agency for the development of the
Information Society. Led several projects spreading affordable access to the
Internet and developing ICT-related skills countrywide. Represented Portugal
in several international fora and committees on
Internet Governance, including the HLIG and IGF Bell Labs, Economics and Technology Management Group Summer 2000 Internship in optical
backbone design. Developed models for
dynamic capacity planning. |
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RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS Co-PI: Living Analytics
Research Center, Partnership w/ Singapore Management University, Source:
Government of Singapore, $20m/5 years, with Steve Miller, Steve Fienberg, Ramayya Krishnan, Rahul Telang
and Alessandro Acquisti PI: Engineering and Public
Policy Dual PhD Program offered jointly by Carnegie Mellon University and
Portugal, Source: Portuguese Government, $5.3m/5 years PI: Technology, Management
and Policy for the Telecommunications Industry Source: Portuguese
Government, $1.05m/3 years, with Marvin Sirbu Co-PI: The Role of User
Innovators in the Development of Telecom Products and Service, Source:
Portuguese Government, $300k/3 years, with Pedro Oliveira and Francisco Veloso PI: Assessing the Impact of
Broadband of Informal Education, Source: Time Warner Cable Research Program
on Digital Communications, $20k/6 months Co-PI: Modeling Mobile Customer Behavior, Source: Wharton Consumer Analytics Initiative, $2.5k/6 months, with Rahul Telang |
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SUPERVISION OF PHD STUDENTS AND POST-DOCTORAL
FELLOWS
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RESEARCH UNDER DEVELOPMENT I pursue three lines of related research using both theoretical as well as empirical approaches. My research interests rely on understanding how people use technology and influence each other to do so and how firms and regulation interact to shape telecommunication and information markets. Economic
Impact of ICTs in Education This line of research is devoted to measure the economic impact of ICTs, and broadband in particular, in schools and universities. Economic impact is measured through academic performance as well as widespread adoption and use of broadband. A series of empirical papers are under preparation and/or submitted for publication: 1. ÒThe Effects of Broadband in Schools on StudentsÕ PerformanceÓ, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that the introduction of broadband in schools leads to a decrease in grades in the short-term. 2. ÒImpact of Wireless Internet on Graduate Academic PerformanceÓ, with Ryan Turner. This paper shows that higher usage of wireless Internet in the University of Porto is associated with better academic performance. 3. ÒSpillover Effects of Wiring Schools with BroadbandÓ. This paper shows that wiring schools with broadband in Portugal led to an increase in the overall Internet traffic in the country. 4. ÒSpillover Effects of Broadband in Schools and the Critical Role of ChildrenÓ, with Rodrigo Belo and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that deploying broadband to schools leads to an increase in the household adoption rate of Internet. 5. ÒFamily Spillover Effects of Broadband Internet in SchoolsÓ, with Rodrigo Belo. In this paper we expect to address the issue of whether adults in the household use more Internet as a result of having children in school that do so (still in preliminary stage). Data
Analytics in Social Networks This line of research is focused on analyzing large datasets on consumer behavior to empirically establish and measure the effect of peer influence over social networks in network churn and purchase of cell phone related products. A number of papers are under preparation and/or submitted for publication: 1. ÒSocial Network Data Lifts Prediction of Near-Future Mobile ChurnersÓ, with Pavel Krivistky. This paper shows that using data about the social circle allows for better predicting churners in cell phone networks. 2. ÒContagious Churn in Cell Phone NetworksÓ, with Pavel Krivitsky and Rahul Telang. This paper shows that when a consumer leaves a cell phone operator her friendsÕ propensity to follow increases. 3. ÒDiffusion and Influence over Cell Phone NetworksÓ, with Rodrigo Belo. This paper uses randomization techniques to establish what kind of cell phone products diffuse based on peer influence. 4. ÒDiffusion of Handsets over Cell Phone NetworksÓ, with Miguel Matos. This paper shows the effect of peer influence in the diffusion of cell phone handsets. 5. ÒPeer influence in Shurn over in Cell Phone NetworksÓ, with Qiwei Han. This paper identifies the determinants of churn in cell phone networks. 6. ÒDeterminants of the Life Cycle of TweetsÓ, wih Vasco Pedro and Miguel Matos. In this paper we hope to characterize the life cycle of tweets and understand better the determinants of successful tweets (still in preliminary stage). This line of research looks at the structure of telecom markets with emphasis on local networks. The impact of wholesale price regulation is analyzed from an economic perspective. Option theory is used to address issues of asymmetric value between infrastructure and virtual providers. 1. ÒWholesale Price Regulation in Telecoms with Endogenous Entry and Simultaneous MarketsÓ, with Miguel Matos. This paper predicts entry into local NGN telecom markets as a function of wholesale regulation and shows that current EU practice to deregulate these markets might hurt welfare. 2. ÒUsing Contingent Claim Theory to Price Flexibility in Local Access MarketsÓ, with Michael Oraro. This paper uses option theory to price the flexibility provided to virtual operators who can time entry with the stochastic dynamics of downstream retail value. 3. ÒPricing Flexibility in Subloop UnbundlingÓ, with Michael Oraro. This paper uses option theory to price the flexibility provided to virtual operators who can use unbundled network elements to compete in local access markets (still in early stage). 4. ÒWelfare Changes in the Cournot Setting and Application to the ICT SectorÓ. This paper shows how the change in the number of firms in a market with economies of scale affects welfare in the absence of regulation. 5. ÒThe Efficiency of Cournot Equilibrium and Application to the ICT SectorÓ. This paper shows how the change in the number of firms in a market with economies of scale hurts welfare relative to the welfare generated by a fully regulated monopolist. |
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DUAL PHD PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC POLICY Carnegie Mellon University
embarked in a major partnership with a number of Portuguese Universities to
develop joint research projects and graduate educational programs. For more
information visit CMU-Portugal. I have been
responsible for the Dual PhD Program in Engineering and Public Policy,
offered jointly by the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at
Carnegie Melon University, Instituto Superior Tecnico of the Technical University of Lisbon and the
Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto. This program focus on
critical infrastructures, with specializations in information networks
management and policy and in energy policy and management. Students spend
half of the time before they graduate at CMU and the other half in Portugal.
Upon successful completion of the requirements to graduate students obtain
two PhD diplomas, one from Carnegie Mellon University and another one from
the Portuguese University they enrolled with. Deadline for applications is
January 15th every year. Fellowships covering full tuition and
stipend for four years are available for the top candidates. |